Intel keeps pushing forward in the realm of discrete GPUs, a fact underscored by recent shipping manifests revealing exciting developments with the Battlemage series, along with a mysterious new SKU.
We’ve seen Intel take strides with its Battlemage GPUs before, notably the Arc B580 and B570, which stole the spotlight last year. These cards gained traction partly because NVIDIA and AMD hadn’t yet launched their next-generation offerings. Yet, as this quarter winds down, Intel has been rather quiet about their desktop GPU roadmap, sparking speculation that they might be stepping back. However, new shipping details paint a different picture.
Twitter user Haze shared an intriguing post featuring shipping manifests that include the “BMG-G31” — a variant said to pack more powerful silicon than the current Battlemage lineup. Speculation suggests that if released, it could come equipped with 24-32 Xe2 cores, a 256-bit memory bus, and 16 GB of GDDR6 memory. Despite whispers about the BMG-G31’s potential cancellation, indications from the manifests point to its use in “R&D purposes,” hinting it could be tailored for AI and professional applications rather than consumer gaming.
Adding to the intrigue, there’s another variant, the “BMG C32,” appearing in the manifests, although the naming is a bit puzzling given it incorporates initials from both Battlemage and Celestial lines. The gaming community, including sources like @mikdt, speculate that this could be a refined version of the BMG-G31, part of Intel’s ongoing Battlemage efforts. The big question remains whether these models will ever reach the desktop market.
With Intel crafting the Xe3 “Celestial” architecture to complement Panther Lake SoCs, and a new CEO steering the ship, it’s likely that the company’s immediate focus will lean towards AI-driven GPU solutions. This pivot aligns with Intel’s strategic priorities, which now appear to emphasize AI capabilities, potentially reshaping their approach to competitive graphics technology.
